Combined telephone and dictation system



May 7, 19 R. v. JUDY COMBINED TELEPHONE AND DICTATION SYSTEM Filed April 16. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 it 3 5 :3 GE 0 AN: N4 63 S 1 I .E N 0E m m m H .F J; 2955mm 4 5:5 9

R. v. JUDY 2,791,632

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 7, 1957 QOMBINED TELEPHONE AND DICTATION SYSTEM Filed April 16, 1954 United States PatentO COMBINED TELEPHONE AND DICTATION- SYSTEM Robert V. Judy, Chicago, 111;, assignor to International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, a corporation of-Maryland Application April 1-6, 1954, Serial No..4 23, 69 2f Claims- (Cl. 179-6) This invention relates to a combined telephone and dietation system. Its general object is to provide added faeilities which will enable any designatedtelephone ofa telephone system to become operatively extended toan idl'e one of'a group of dictation machines upon the calling of a number assigned to the group, whereby the dictation machines used' by a number of persons are placedin a common pool.

A further object is to so arrange the system that a connected dictation machine may be controlled satisfactorily-from the calling telephone with a minimum of added apparatus and wiring.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION It has been chosen to disclose the inventionas appliedto a private automatic telephonesystem of a multi-hundredline capacity; such as may serve a sizable establishment. Such a system employs selectors having levels leading respectively to-the hundreds groups of lines.

A spare selector level is employed for trunks extending to. respective dictation machines of the pool, whereby an idledictation machine istaken for use; upon the.dialing of the corresponding single-digit number, such as,9..

A feature of the invention is that each dictation trunk is provided with trunk apparatus controllable from..the calling telephone to exercise the necessary controls over the associated dictation machine. According to this iceture, the trunk apparatus starts the motor of the machine when the trunk is seized; it causes the clutch ofthafmachine to operate when a button is pushed on.the;calling telephone; and-it counts impulses 'sentto. the seized, trunk to signal=an attendant or to causethe machine toexellcise adesiredfunction.

An; important, circuit feature of the invention; is-that the impulse-counting mechanism: of a trunk is restored to normal responsive to the firstdial pulse of a series, and is reset by theremainingpulses of the series.

Other objects and features will appear as the. description progresses.

The drawings Fig. 1 is a single-line switching diagram of asystem embodying the invention. 2

Figs. 2 and 3 comprise a circuit diagram of sufficient of the apparatus of Fig. 1 to enable theinvention tobe understood.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention having been described generally,...a detailed description will now be given.

Fig. 1Switching diagram Referring to Fig. 1, the switching system may-encompass several hundred lines divided into the usual decimal groups of one hundred lines each. L1 is a line of 'one of the 100-1ine groups. It serves telephone station S1, and is equipped with line circuit vLCl. L1 is accessible to line finder-11F, and is connected by line multiple LMl tobank contacts of other switches(finders and'connectors) serving 2 the IOO-line group. Line L2 may be similar to L1, and in tliesaine or. another IOU-line group. It is accessible to connector C, and is connected by line multiple LM2 to-otherswitches (finders and connectors) serving the same IOU-line group.

The-line finders are linked to respective hundreds selectors, line finder LF being linked to hundreds selector The several hundreds selectors have'theirbank'contacts' connected in multiple level-by-level in the usual manner; giving them common accessto the several levels of tru'nks; usually ten. As many of these levels of trunks as-needed are used for access to respective groups of connectors. Connector trunk CT is one of the trunks which extends from selector level 8 to connector C.

From selector level 9, dictation trunks DT1 to DTL extend throughrespectivetrunk circuits TClto TCL to dictation machines DM1 to DML, respectively.

The trunk circuits TC thus occupy the trunking posi- @011 of a group of connectors.

Equipments AT and AK are common to trunk circuits TC and trunks DT.

Attendants telephone AT may be selectively connected ,to, the. dictation trunks by respectivekeysKl to of equipment AK, as when the attendant is signalled byone otthe-individualqsignal lamps SL1 and SLL.

If it is: desired'to. make a call from station. S1" on line L1, th e usual line signal causes line circuit 1.01 to; respond. Anidle linefinder, suchas LP is thereby caused .to.- co nne ct. its associated selector HS to thecalling line If. it i s.de sired tocall line L2, the digit 8may nowbe dialed. Selector HS is thereby stepped to level. 8, and it--the reupon selects an idle connector trunk such as CT, extendingto connectorC. The subsequent dialing of the ,tensand units digit in the number ofthe-desired line, L2,, steps connector C to the corresponding level and. to. the contact set of line L2. Station S2 on called line. L2 .is then/signalled in the usual manner until the .call is answered, the connection being released when the handsets (notshown) are replaced.

If cit-is, desired to dictate from station S1, afteraline finder LF .and selector H8 is, seized, the digit-9 may he dialedcausing selector HS tov stepto level 9,..and to select anidle dictation trunk DT. c For a; system of less than lines,.the hundredsiselecr .tors are. eliminated, and line finders, LF= are. linked directlyto respectiveconnectors C. Then, .ifithe connectors C are of the trunk-hunting switch-through type. on a desired level, theconnections to dictation trunks may be takenfrom that level, suchas the 9th.

1 Figs. 2 and 3Circuit diagrams Referring-to 'Figs. 2 and 3, a call-through circuit diagram is-shown, of'the apparatus'of Fig. 1 which was included in the described connection-fromline L1 to, line L2 and in the described connection from line L1 to a dictation trunk; such as DT1, the circuits for thetrunk circuit (TCl) for the latter trunk being shown in full;

Dictati0n-controi apparatus Stations from which the dictation machines DM .are to beus ed are each equipped with, a.controlf pushbuiton as sh ownat PB for station S1. This push button isused to' connect ground to the line through a retard coil 201 so long as held operated. Hookswitch contacts 202, dial D; and telephone apparatus T comprise the usual telephonestationapparatus. The circuit arrangements (not shown) at line circuit LCl and LCZ, finders, LF, selectors HS, and connectors C, .may be of theusual loop-dial: ins r dictation machines DM1 and DMLare Ofihfi lfi. mote-controlled'type, well known in the art. Forillus- Trunk circuit TCl, Fig. 3, include control relays 301 to 311, and it includes impulse counter 320, which may be of the type disclosed in the United States PatentNo.

When ground pulsesare delivered to the operating, lowerwinding of counter 320; its contact, sets ,1 to are, actuated successively, responsive respectively to the successive pulses. The counter clears out when aground pulse is delivered from conductor 324 to its knockdown, upper winding, I

' Station 31 calls dictation number 'If'the user of station S1 desires to dictate, he remove: his handset (notshown); waits for dial tone; andthen -calls the dictation number, the single digit When the handset is lifted, hook switch contact 202 close, causing line circuit -LC1 to operate to start an idle finder, such as LP, to search forthe calling line L1. 'When the line L1 is found, the'selector-HS is prepared for 'operation in the usual-manner, and the usual dial-tone signal is sent back to S1. g V 1 I When the dictation digit 9 is then dialed, by manipulating the usual dial calling device D, the illustrated contacts thereof generate a series of nine momentary interruptions in the closed line L1, thereby causing selector HS to operate to its 9th level and to rotate thercover in search of an idle trunk DT, being a trunk having an idle-indicating battery potential on the sleeve conductor thereof. It may be assumed that dictation trunk DT1 isthe first one found idle and that it is therefore seized. Trunk DT1 is normally marked idle by a connection to its conductor 8 from the negative pole of the exchange battery, by way of resistor 323 and back contact 1 of relay 303.

The connection from S1 is now extended by HS to 'trunk DT1, which is connected to TCl and DM1 of Fig. 3. Tip and ring conductors T and R of trunk DT1 extend respectively to ground and to the negative pole of the usual exchange battery by way of the windings of clutch and line relays 301 and 302. The usual line current accordingly flows over the connection through relayst301 and 302. Clutch relay 301 does not operate .at this time becauseits windings are difierentially connected. Line relay 302 operates, and closes anoperating circuitfor release relay 303. At its contacts 1, relay 303 removes idle-indicating battery potentialfrom the sleeve conductor S and places ground potential thereonto mark the trunk busy at other selectors and tohold the established connection. It prepares an impulsing path at its contacts 3, and at its contactsIZ, it grounds conductor 327 and closes an operating'circuit for motor relay 307. V 7 a Motor relay 307 closes a circuit from power conductors 326 for operating the motor M of dictation machine DMl." p e The trunk circuit TC1 and dictation machine DMl are now prepared for dictation, and for other functions; with line relay 302, release relay 303, and motor relay 307 operated in the trunk circuit TCl; and the motor M'of the machine DM1 running.

The dictator at station S1 may now proceed, holding push button PB operatedwhile'he is speaking'to record, and, releasing the push button when he wishes to stop the recorder while not talking. Each time push button PB is operated, ground is connected to the conductors of line Ll' through retard coil 201', shunting the upper windings of relays 301 and 302 and the tip side of the line loop with a low resistance path for the direct current new. Direct current flow is th e or eas d through at u d atthaiwnan increased through the ring side, and the balance of differential clutch relay 301 isupset.

Relay 301 operates, at its contacts 2 it grounds conduct-or 330, and at its contacts 1 it closes a circuit from power conductors 326 for operating clutch magnet 315 of dictation machine DMI.

Operation of clutch magnet 315 causes the recording medium (not shown) of apparatus 319 to be driven by motor M; and the dictation machine DM 1 new records dictation from station S1. 7 i

The talking path extends from station. S1, over the described connection to trunk DT1, and further over conductor pair 325, to apparatus 319 of dictation machine DMl. The condenser316 inthe ring conductor of pair 325 blocks direct current of the line loop from interfering with the apparatus 319. Retard coil 201 maintains line .L1 balanced tov ground for voice signals, duringop- .eration of push button PB.

When the end of the recording medium (not shown) isapproacheicontacts 321 are closed for a short period,

'completing an operate, circuit to power conductors 326 for buzzer 322. A signal is transmitted through condensers 317 and 318, over the connection to station S1.

Other functions of the dictating machine DM1 are controlled by using dial D. After releasing push'but- .ton PB to release the clutch of themachine, a desired tunctionof the machine may "be initiated by dialing the assigned digit.

When dial D is operated a series of circuit interruption impulses is transmitted constituting the digit, and line relay 302 is restored momentarily for each such interruption impulse in a series.

Release relay 303 remains operated throughout any series of impulse-induced restorations of line relay 302, being slow restoring because of its indicated copper sleeve. 7

Series relay 304 operates promptly upon the first restoration of line relay 302, the circuit being from ground, through the break contacts of relay 302 and make contacts 3 of relay 303. The series relay 304 is slow restoring because of its indicated copper sleeve, and remains operated until the end of a series of impulses.

Each restoration of line relay 302 delivers an impulse at its break contacts, through make contacts 3 of relay 303, to conductor 328. 7 The first impulse of a series over conductor 328 is transmitted through break contacts 2 of relay 306 to the winding of pulse-1 relay 30S. Relay 305 operates "promptlyiupon the first' restoration of line relay 302, 'a'nd clos'es a path from battery, through the windings 'of relays 305 and 306m series, through contacts 2 of relay 305, and make contacts 1 of relay 304 to'ground -oft-"conductor 327.

Relay 306 does not operate at this time because its winding is shunted by the operating ground of relay 305.

When ground is removed from conductor 328 at the end of the first impulse, relay 306 operates in series with relay 305, which remains operated. I Pulse-l relays 305 and 306 deliver a 'ground pulse to hon ductor 324, the pulse starting when relay 305 operates to close its make contacts 1, and terminating when relay 306 operatesto open its break contacts 1. This pulse is transmitted over conductor324, to the upper, or restoring, winding of counter 320. If counter 320 remains actuated from a previous operation, it now restores.

Relay 306, at itscont'acts 2, transfers the impulse conductor 328 to the'lower, or operating, winding of cesarean; i has-garter the firstimpulse of a series, counter 320 is istaiedysnaits operate winding'is'connected to impiilscondu'ctor32'8.; 1 When'tlieremaining impulses' of a series are delivered aver coriductor32 8, the contact -sets ofcounter320 are tartan-6'32 actuated successively responsive respectively tothetsecortd and following impulses of a; series.

Series relay 304 restores shortly after the lastimpulse =of a:series,at its make contacts "1 itopens thevholding :circuitfor relays305and-306, and-at: its'break contactsxl it extends-ground from conductor 327 itoiconductor 329.

Pulse-1 relays 305 and.306 'are' so adjuste d .that when they restore, contacts '1 of'relay.305' openzbefore contacts 1-of relayi306 close, .to :prevent .a pulse being delivered toconductorI 324.

:The groundon conductor 329 is extended through contacts of counter '320,1to operate o'nexof the relaysr308 to 311, depending on the digitidialed. The machine DMl exercises the corresponding function, orthe-attendant is ysignalled, as described below.

If" an error is rnadein dictationthe dictator may dial thedigit; 2. 'After thet series- 'of twopulses, contact: set l of counter 320 is:actuated; and whenseries relay 5304 restores, ground is extended'tmconductor -329 and is further extended through make contactsil and break contacts 2 of counter 320, to the windingxofecor rection relay 308.

Relay 308 operates,.and at its contactst2 {extends aground over conductor 324 to the upper,-'or restoring,

winding of counter 320.

Counter 320 restores, and opens the circuit of relay 308. Relay-308 is slow restoring because'of:its indicated .tion mark is. made at the machine DM1 on= an indica'ting pad. Push button PB may thenbe op'erated and dictation'may'proceed.

,If the dictator wishes tohavethedi'ctation machine DMl' play back a portion of the message that has been dictated, he may dial the digit 3. .After the series of 'three pulses, contact-sets 1 and 2 of counter 320- are actuated; and when series relay304 restores, an operating circuit is closed for playback relay 309 from groundex- .tended to conductor 329,- further extended through make contacts 2 and break contacts '3- of counter 320.

Relay 309 at its contacts 1 closes a circuitfor'playback f magnet 333 of the dictation machine-andat its contacts 2 closes a circuit for clutch magnet 315. This -willcause certain functions to be performed'in the dictationrnachine DMI to play 'back'a portion of'therecorded message to the dictator.

1 Playback may be stopped by pressing pushbutton PB.

' Playback is also stopped it another digit isdialed, when receipt of the first impulse causes the counter to restore.

The end ofa letter may be marked by dialing digit 4.

'After the series of four pulses, contactsets 1 m3 of counter 320 are actuated; and when series relay 304 "restores, ground is extendedover conductor 329, and further through make contacts 3and'break contacts4"of' counter 320 to operate-theend of letter relay 310.

Relay 310, at its contacts 1, closes a circuit from power conductors 326 for the end-of-letter magnet312, and at its contacts 2, extends ground over conductor 324 to the restoring winding of counter 320.

Counter 320 restores and opens the circuit of relay 310. Relay 310 is slow restoring-because of its indicated copper sleeve, and restores shortly, opening its contacts 2 to terminate the pulse over conductor 324. At contacts 1 of relay 310 the circuit is opened for magnet 312.

ifrhepp ra omQfima et;31 torya-wsh eper od cau e -an endrof -letter mark- .to beg-B13116 on the: indicating pad at the dictation machine DMI. .-Thedictator;.may then .proceed with the next. item of dictation, operating push button BBwhile talking.

To signal the attendant the digit 5 =may be dialed. After the ;'-series of five pulses, contact sets 1'- to ,4'gof counter 320 are actuated;- and when -series relay 304 restores, ground is extended over ;conductor 329,-,5and further through. make contacts '4. and ,break% contacts 5; of

- counter 320 to operatecall relay 311.

.Relay 311, r at .its contacts 2, connects-conductor i 324 to conductor =330;-and at its contacts '1, closesa-connection ,from ,ground, through signal, lamp SL1 of the .attendants key-equipment AK, to a circuit at the attendamis telephone AT. .Lamp SL1 lights, and a"bu zzer (not shown) sounds at the attendants telephone.

The attendant may operate-thekey-Kl.associated with .the ,litlamp SL1, thereby "connectinglher--telephone;AT .tothe conductor pair-325. Atalking path now exists over the established .connection between station- 81- an the.attendants telephone AT. The'dictatoramaygive :the

i desired instructions. to, the attendant.

.The dialingyof any. digit higher than-5 will alsoisignal ,the attendant.

Thefsignalling circuit may be .released by-operat-ing =pushlbuttonsPB. Clutchrelay 301 closes its-"contacts 2, extending v ground over conductor 330, throughcontacts .2 of relay.311, over conductor 324 to therestoring-wind- -returns the handset to its cradle, the calling line loop is opened. Line relay 302 restores-and opens the operate path for release relay 303. Relay 303 remains operated fora short period,-allowing. series relay 304 to operate through make contacts 30f relay 303 to ground at the break contacts of relay 302. .Relay304 remains operated for-a short period afterrelay 303 restores, closingan operating circuit for end-of-letter relay 310 through contacts 2 of relay 304, break contacts 3 of. relay 303 and the break contacts of relay 302 to ground. .Relay .304 restores shortly and opens this pathat-its contacts :2.

Relay 310 operates for ashort period, v,duringwhich it closes its contacts 1 to operate magnet 312 of dictation machine DMZ-l to mark the end of the letter,= and at its contacts 2 sends a pulse of-ground over conductor, 324 to the restoring winding of counter 320.

. At contacts'lof release relay303, ground .isremoved from the sleeve of trunk DT1,- and idle indicating battery through resistor 323 isconnected thereto. The connection is now released, and the dictation trunk .DT1 is ready to be seized for further use.

I claim:

1. In a combined automatic telephone system and dietation system, lines having respective. stations thereon each equipped with an impulse sender for transmitting digit impulses for controlling automatic switching apparatus, common trunks,,di ctation trunks each havinga 'means 'in-each'dictation trunk for selectively controlling the control apparatus thereof responsiveto further pulses received from any connected calling line. 1 a

2. 'In a' combined automatic telephone system and dietation system, according to claim 1, wherein the stations comprise first stations authorized to use the dictation machines and second stations not so authorized, each first station including a line-signal device which is not provided at any second station, any line-signal device being operable and restorable at will, means responsive to the operation of the line-signal device at any first station which is connected witha dictation trunk for sending a "continuous line signal to the connected dictation trunk so long as the line-signal device remains operated, and 'means'in any connected dictation trunk for causing'the associated dictation machine to record such voice signals as are sent from the connected station only so long as the line signal is being received therefrom.

3L'In a combined automatic telephone system and dieitation system, according to claim 1, wherein the connec tion from any calling station over a common trunk to an idle dictation trunk comprises a two-wire loop, with transmitter-energizing current supplied to the loop at the dicta- 'tion trunk from a current source having one pole grounded, a two-winding ditferential dictate relay in each dictation trunk having its windings oppositely connected in series with the respective connections from the current source to the loop, whereby the relay does not respond to the normal loop flow of direct current, the stations including first stations authorized to use the dictation machines and second stations not so authorized, each authorized station including dictate means for grounding the loop at will to thereby increase current flow at will over one conductor while decreasing current flow over the other, the differential dictate relay of a connected dictation trunk operating responsive to the unbalanced fiow, and means for causing the associated dictation machine to operate to record such voice signals as are received from a connected station so long as its associated dictate relay is operated.

4. In a combined automatic telephone system and dictation system according to claim 3, each authorized station including two impedance devices, the dictate means comprising means for grounding the conductors of the loop through the impedance devices respectively, whereby balanced-to-ground voice signals may be transmitted over the grounded loop.

5''. In a combined automatic telephone system and dietation system according to claim 1, an attendant telephone station associated with the dictation machines, signal devices at the attendant station corresponding respectively to the dictation trunks, switching means enabling an attendant to connect the attendant station to any dictation trunk, the control apparatus of each dictation trunk including selectively controlled means for causing the associated signal device to display a call signal.

6. In combination, a group of dictation machines, dictation trunks extending respectively to the dictation machines, dictating telephone stations, switching means for connecting any station to any idle dictation machine by way of its dictation trunk, each station including a linesignal device operable and restorable at will for sending start and stop signals respectively to a connected dictation trunk, means in any dictation trunk for starting the associated dictation machine for recordingvoice signals responsive to the said start signal from a connected station and for stopping the dictation machine from recording responsive to the said stop signal from such station, each station including an impulse sender for selectively sending desired series of digit impulses to a connected dictation trunk, each dictation trunk including a counting device having a normal position and being operable therefrom to countiimpu'lse'siin a series received from a connected associated'countingdevice to normal position if operated.

7. In a combination according to claim 6, preliminary pulse-counting apparatus in each dictation trunk and means for operating it to count the first pulse in any received series and to mark the end thereof, and means controlled by any said preliminary apparatus for clearing out the associated counting-device, if operated, responsive to the first impulse ofany series and for preventing such first impulse from being counted by the said counting device, while permitting the counting'device to count the succeeding impulses of any such series.

'8. In combinationya: group of dictation machines, dictation trunks extending respectively to the dictation machines, dictating telephonestations, switching means for connecting any station to any idle dictation machine by way 'of its dictation trunk for recording voice signals from the connected station, each station including an impulse sender for selectively sending desired series of digit impulses to a connected dictation trunk, each dictation trunk includinga first counting device having a normal position and being operable therefrom to count the first impulse in any series received from a connected station, each dictation trunk also including a second counting device having a normal position and being operable therefrom to count impulses received from a connected station, means controlled by the first counting device for clearing out the second counting device, if operated, responsive to the first impulse of any received series and for preventing the second counting device from counting the first impulse of any series while permitting it to count the subsequent impulses thereof, each dictation trunk including control conductors for controlling respective auxiliary functions, the second counting device including means for selectively energizing the associated control conductors according to the digit series counted, and means including timing means for clearing out the first counting device at the end of any received series of digit impulses while leaving the second counting device operated.

9. In acombination according to claim 8, the first counting device including two relays and means for operating them responsive respectively to the beginning and to the end of the first impulse of a series, a clearout circuit for the second counting device closed by the first relay and opened by the second, and an impulse circuit for the second counting device closed by the second relay.

10. In combination, a group of dictation machines,

- dictation trunks extending respectively to the dictation machines, dictating telephone stations, switching means for connecting any station to any idle dictation machine by way of its dictation trunk for recording voice signals from the connected station and for subsequently severing any such connection, each station including means for sending control signals to any connected dictation trunk, marking means in any dictation trunk for marking the end of a recorded message in response to one such signal, and means responsive to the act of severing a connection between any connected station and dictation trunk for actuating the said marking means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

